Why you should NOT have a WhatsApp group for your HMO housemates and what to do instead
This week’s episode is all about how WhatsApp can ruin your life if you let it!
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So let’s get into this week’s episode.
Why WhatsApp could ruin your life.
Of course you will need a way to communicate with your housemates if you are managing your properties.
But I’d caution you very strongly from creating a WhatsApp group for your tenants which you are also a member of.
People love convenience.
I do myself. I WhatsApp Nicky or Luke to ask a question I could easily find out in a second in Arthur.
But it seems like it’s easier to message.
WhatsApp is an instant messenger.
Which implies instant replies.
And that’s why I believe that it’s not the way to communicate with your housemates.
And if they have you on WhatsApp, they’ll ask you on WhatsApp about the electricity not working rather than look at something downstairs at the box.
They’ll involve you in petty bickering with each other.
That you definitely should not be involved in.
Most of your communication should not be instant.
For example let’s say you have 10 tenants.
With WhatsApp 10 tenants can contact you 247 and expect an instant reply.
And more than anything, people expect an instant answer on WhatsApp in a way that they don’t with email.
They can see whether you’ve read the message and it's just a little bit too 247.
Most letting agents are available 9-5 and I suggest that unless there’s an emergency, you aim for that too.
Maybe that is manageable for you.
But what if you have 50 tenants or 100 tenants.
The best way is to have a place where you check for none-urgent messages.
So rather than get disturbed 10 times in a day,
you choose the time to go in and action what needs to be actioned.
Efficiency.
You might say to me,
It’s not good service.
However, if I go to google reviews right now,
We have over 60 5 star reviews.
When you have a process for dealing with issues, you have the right energy to deal with them better.
Rather than feeling harassed when things such as a notice are WhatsApped to you on a Sunday after.
You can pick it up on Monday.
So, what would I suggest you do instead?
Have a communication channel that is agreed where all comms happen,
Preferably in writing.
Email.
We use our property management software.
We use Arthur.
Another great one is Go Tenant which has a lot easier user interface.
Whichever software,
You have one place.
Tenants put maintenance requests, notice messages, and everything else on there - and you can access and deal with.
All their ASTs etc are there.
Instructions for house devices.
Stuff about their deposits.
Every maintenance issue ever.
If you do, you are likely to be involved in all sorts of bad tempered minutiae that you shouldn’t be involved in!
I caution you, keep your sanity and your hair and have another way to keep in touch with your tenants.
What do you think?
Screenshot this episode and share on Instagram tagging me in it @stephanietproperty
I’d love to know if you disagree and WhatsApp works brilliantly for you.
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Have a great rest of the week,
And remember,
Believe Bigger, Be Bolder and Be a Gamechanger!
See you soon!
Stephanie & Nicky
xx
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